We had some time before our visit of the Palazzo Vecchio and decided to go to the immersive…read moreLeonardo da Vinci experience. Nice context, a few inventions, a nice VR experience and a weird, yet interesting, video experience in the main church hall. It kept us for 30-45 minutes and was enjoyable.

A Doumo Museum across the square. Again we went through metal detectors & had our bags checked…read more The massive collection was incredible. There were 3 floors and a terrace, everything was beyond impressive & in excellent condition. There was so much to see it was overwhelming. There were videos in English detailing how the Doumo was constructed - fascinating! I could have spent a week here!

San Gim has much to offer travelers like Vernaccia di San Gimignano (a famous white wine),…read moreCinghiale (wild boar salami) and breathtaking views from one of its fourteen towers. Just admire how M.C. Escher saw the city -- http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/ital-bmp/LW96.jpg It also has a dark and sordid history as a hub for prosecuting and punishing those deemed heretics by the Roman Inquisition. Some of the common charges included practicing homosexuality, promiscuity, Protestantism and Judaism. The museum that houses the tools of the torment trade was an optional excursion during my tour but I'd have rather died than miss it. Here are some of the grisly gadgets I saw -- Guillotine. A true classic I've actually considered installing a small one in my kitchen, because I want to start the deliberate and systematic destruction of a particular group of plants...lettuce. When compared to arugula or radichetta, it's an inferior race of leafy green vegetable. Just thinking about it makes me want to hum my assassin's anthem, Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Iron Maiden. An 80's hair metal band or a torture device meant to look like a sculpture. You can host a dinner party and no one would know you're also doing your sacred duty of punishing the wicked. Don't worry the victim's screams won't spoil the meal, it's completely soundproof. Once the guests have left you can open one side and have a peek at the damage the steel-spiked interior has done. Unfortunately by then the accused may have passed out due to the intense claustrophobia the maiden of Nuremberg was designed to induce. Judas Cradle. Get busted for crimes against the church and you'll get placed on a wooden triangular apparatus named for Jesus' betrayer. If you were lucky on your chest or back, if your jailer was having a particularly bad day...you'd be forced to sit on it while the Judas Priests strapped heavy weights to your ankles and left gravity do their dirty work. http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljq9cmVgFQ1qaod4yo1_500.jpg Pear of Anguish. A spreading caliper of pain that opens in four directions with a locking mechanism to hold it in place in the prisoner's mouth, vagina or rectum. It was often used in this fashion -- Inquisitor, "What do you say we take a break from all this thumb-screw business I'm famished. Would you like a pear?" Alleged Blasphemer, "Oh yes. I'm so nauseous and in terrible pain, mercy...please!" Inquisitor, "OK but since you're in cuffs I have to feed it to you, open real wide." http://www.kinkcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/pear-03.jpg Obviously someone didn't know the unwritten rule, never accept anything from an executioner, they're known to have notoriously cruel senses of humor. The detainees at Gitmo don't know how good they've got it; I'll take barking German Shepherds and waterboarding any day over the tamest device of displeasure they keep in this joint. Admission is €12/7/5 for adults, children, and groups respectively which is double or triple the price of most institutions in Italy, but I doubt this museum has much philanthropy. You can't really have a press conference with a giant cardboard check that says "Torture Museum" on it when they're a so many kids with leukemia in the world. At the time I was ready to poke my own eyes out if a saw another damn fresco or architectural marvel and it was a welcome off the beaten path distraction. I recommend it and so does the Wu-Tang Clan. They stopped at St. Gimmy's Museo della Tortura during the first leg of their European tour, which inspired this skit -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnYsAeqUzUc

We were walking through San Gimignano and saw this museum. We went in and purchased tickets. $34…read morefor 4 of us. You get two museums for the price of one. They are within walking distance. Plenty of old torture devices to see. Pretty cool if you are into medieval memorabilia. There is a cool basement cellar area. It's worth the trip while there. It's a quick walk through.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!

25th Wedding Anniversary trip alert (European vacation)…read more.. The Uffizi Gallery is housed in a long, elegant structure designed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari for the powerful Medici family, the gallery retains an air of purpose and grandeur, its corridors opening toward views of the Arno River and the city's historic skyline. The Uffizi collection is widely considered one of the finest in the world, particularly for Italian Renaissance painting, and includes works by masters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Iconic paintings like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera feel both familiar and astonishing when encountered in person. Their scale are beyond belief. The depth and breadth of the gallery is a bit overwhelming, with dozens of rooms and hundreds of masterpieces, creating moments where wonderment converges with a bit of tiredness. What lingers most is the sense of continuity: the Medici legacy encapsulated every wall, and the feeling that one is walking through the very cradle of Renaissance thought. The building itself is stunning...frescoed ceilings, eye-catching statues, and glimpses toward Florence's landmarks. Uffizi Gallery reinforces the idea that art, history, and city are intricately connected. Prepare to take adequate time to view the exhibits

November 6, 2024 3:45-6:45PM…read more We initially didn't plan to visit but was told this is a must do in Florence. I'm glad we did. I love art museums and thought this was more religious artifacts but glad to see some of my new favorite paintings in person. Silly me! Upon entering the museum, there a lot of stairs to climb. Get your exercise in for sure! I did see a very tiny elevator a little bit hidden to the side, so they definitely can accommodate those needing accessibility but plan accordingly as the elevator was tiny, probably one stroller/wheelchair at a time. The Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Spring are both so amazing to see in person. The works of Caravaggio were very powerfully presented. The da Vinci, the Michelangelo, the Raphael... so many great artist and their works are housed here. Lots of Sweet Baby Jesus and the Madonna, various Adam and Eve paintings.. My favorite besides Botticelli's, was from Pietro Perugino's a Portrait of a young man.. the eyes, the emotions, almost the sadness... what a great painting. The various views from the Uffizi Galleries of Florence was also pretty amazing, from Ponte Vecchio, along the Arno River and the view of the city... so glad we went during sunset as I caught some pretty great shots with just my iPhone. I definitely think this is worth the stop and glad to have this as an impromptu visit. Got in pretty quickly without a reservation either, we were very lucky.

What a find, you MUST, MUST stop in here…read more June is one of the best months to find yourself in Florence, as it can be a lot of fun to watch the semi-final games for the Calcio Storico, or the final match played on June 24, on Florence's patron saint's feast day for St. John the Baptist. The steps here look out toward the field. This museum is a hidden gem! I had no idea the extent of Zeffirelli's career and found each room so interesting. Don't miss the short film about Dante's Inferno! Enjoy the quiet patio for tea or lunch.

This museum is a hidden gem! We were so pleased with our guided tour, and enjoyed the entire…read moreexperience here. I had no idea the extent of Zeffirelli's career and found each room so interesting. Don't miss the short film about Dante's Inferno! This was a great room to end our tour, and to see his creative process 'in surround'. Enjoy the quiet patio for tea or lunch while you're there...off the well beaten path when you desire some peace away from crowds...lovely.

I really wanted to come here to see Galileo's middle finger. I know, I know. But I did get to see…read moreit and it was really cool! Other really cool things to see here are a wealth of scientific instruments from the post. There is also a section filled with wax sculptures depicting medical abnormalities and diseases. If you are into the sciences, it's really cool to see this stuff. Also, there is free WiFi!

In ancient times, to know the time, people used the sundial, a measurement tool based on the…read moredetection of the position of the sun. Sundials had a gnomon, the bar whose shadow marked the time on the dial. Standing outside the Museo Galileo near the Uffizi Gallery at the Palazzo Castellani in Florence, my partner, our friends, family member, and I stumbled on the Monumental Sundial on our way to find an establishment for lunch in September. Originally built in 2007, a tall bronze obelisk constitutes the gnomon of a modern sundial, which casts its shadow on the lines of travertine marble and brass flanked by the signs of the zodiac in glass and marble placed on the ground, indicating time and date. It was visually stunning.

We had timed tickets and got on line to climb to the top of the dome it is the largest ever built…read moreand an iconic Florence landmark. We showed our ticket, went through metal detectors & had our bags checked & started our assent. This is not for small children, people with health problems or the claustrophobic. We weaved around the inside of the cupola twice and went on top of the dome. The stairs up & down were narrow and at times steep also. Sometimes they were spiral & sometimes we had a handrail. It was crowded and hot at 4:30, we got down at 5:30. The views of Florence were spectacular; just endless. The views of the cathedral & dome were spectacular.

One of the only things I remember from Humanities class in high school was our teacher talking…read moreabout the "Duomo" in Florence. Don't judge, it was a long time ago! Even remembering this tidbit was impressive. All joking aside, when I knew a trip to Florence was forthcoming, I knew I had to visit the Duomo for myself. I would recommend it, with the following advice/caveats: - be mindful of the time of year you visit. It was about 96 Fahrenheit when we went, and the route up is very stuffy (We saw several ambulances lined up at the exit to the church "just in case"). We had also dressed conservatively per the church's dress code and were borderline passing out by the time we got to the top. We saw several people in our group not observing the dress code (shorts well above the knee, exposed shoulders, etc), so use your best judgement. - for those with any fear of heights, the catwalk around the interior of the dome might do you in. You should be fine once you get to the top of the dome, though. - given the general age and wear is the stairs, I would not recommend it for elderly or those who have trouble getting around. Overall it was an experience and well worth the cost of admission. Would recommend for your trip to Florence.